Raptors head into All-Star break on high note

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Alan Anderson came off the bench and erupted
for 26 points, and the Toronto Raptors shut down Carmelo Anthony and the New
York Knicks in a 92-88 victory at Madison Square Garden.

DeMar DeRozan added 20 points for the Raptors, who head into the All-Star
break riding a four-game win streak despite Rudy Gay being limited to 11
points on 4-of-21 shooting.

"We're still not a finished product, we're a work in progress," Raptors head
coach Dwane Casey said. "We're still grinding, and we have to continue to do
that."

Anthony also struggled offensively, hitting just 5-of-24 from the field in a
12-point, 12-rebound effort for the Atlantic Division-leading Knicks, who have
dropped three of their last four.

After the game, Anthony noted he played through a right arm injury and said he
would not participate in Sunday's All-Star Game if it did not heal.

J.R. Smith netted 26 points and Raymond Felton had 16 in defeat.

The Knicks trailed the entire fourth quarter but had a chance to pull within
one down the stretch, only to have Anthony miss a contested layup.

Gay went 1-for-2 from the free throw line at the other end for an 84-80 lead
with 2:33 remaining, and New York came away empty on its next three
possessions, as Anthony and Smith each missed from long range and Smith had a
transition layup rim out.

John Lucas III's baseline fadeaway made it a six-point game with under a
minute left, and the Raptors held on from there.

"It was an ugly game," said Knicks center Tyson Chandler. "All the missed
layups and free throws, brain freezes on defense, it was just an ugly game."

A low-scoring first period ended with the Knicks holding an 18-14 lead.

Steve Novak came off the bench early in the second quarter and made three 3-
pointers during a 16-2 run that gave the Knicks a 38-27 lead with 4:50
remaining in the half.

From there, New York started its decline, and failed to hit a field goal over
the last four minutes of the half. Toronto pulled within 42-37 at the break
and held the Knicks to 4-of-21 shooting in the third frame.

An 11-2 run spanning the third and fourth quarter gave Toronto a 69-60 cushion
it never relinquished. The spurt was even more impressive considering Kyle
Lowry, the Raptors' starting point guard, was ejected late in the third after
receiving his second technical foul.

Game Notes

The Knicks won the rebounding battle, 52-35, but shot 35 just percent from the
floor ... The Raptors are off until next Tuesday when they visit the
Washington Wizards ... The Knicks host the Indiana Pacers next Wednesday.